The Carribean as you might imagine it! We first arrived after dark, after a short mini bus journey from the airport. First impressions were good and we got a great room only about 20 steps from the beach overlooking the pool and gardens. We had planned a last minute trip to Spain from London but found this real bargain with help from First Direct. For the same price we could go to Antigua! We could not believe it. The beach was practically deserted because this was ment to be hurricane season but we saw no hurricans. The weather was brilliant, and we would spend all day sun bathing, swiming and doing water sports. If you can go out of season do so. Its so much better.

Our room was perfectly adequate for our needs with good air conditioning and comfortable beds. The grounds were picturesque and the breakfast plentiful. We got our flight and room on a board only basis but we had heard of a great resturant down the other end of the beach( about a 10 minute walk past Sandles) called the Conconut grove. This does really great English breakfasts right on the beach. You sit under the palm roof and watch the ocean as curious lizards sprint over for a piece of sausage. Great! We normally had lunch and dinner in the Beach Resturant also close to the Coconut Grove. Get a table inside under the shade for lunch (its too hot outside during the day) . Get a table directly on the sand after dark - you'll be 2 meters from the waves. The food is great and the atmosphere freindly. We showed them how to make a really great ice coffee with two dollops of vanilla icecream, crushed ice and a single shot of expresso. Perfect! Then a starlight walk back along the pristine beach back to the hotel. But watch it that you wear plastic shoes, The tide gets high and you could get wet feet or step on a jelly fish.

Ah, jellyfish. Well yes, there is a jelly fish season and we saw lots when we went on the Catamran boat ride. Ever more because there are not enough turtels to eat them apparently. But the sting is not too bad and should not spoil your holiday. But get the appropriate cream to take along just in case (not much worse than a bee sting).

The hotel rooms were tired. If you get put in one you don't like, let the staff know and they will try to accomodate a change for you (this is possible if you are there out of season). Our first room had an air conditioner that sounded like a 1974 jumbo jet. Make sure you get a room with a new one. And rember to tip the staff. they really can use it.

We did not hire a car but used Gigi, the local guy who has his own taxi and car hire rental palce in the grounds of the hotel. He was great and took us to many places around the island. A really nice guy and we prefered paying him rather than the larger companies for a "safari" and day trips. He has real insider knowledge and is an asset to the hotel and island. This island is beautiful, the vegtation lush and the people freindly. Its not Switzerland or Austria in tems of cleansliness and a lot more could be done by the government and the local people themselves to create a more pristien evironment but the island is not wealthy and everyone is just trying to make a living. Infra structure is OK but needs a lot of capital investment. The beauty is all our tourist dollars can help make that happen and improve the lives of many people too. I get the impression that the locals are chilled out and not to concerned about all the material nonsence the many tourists obsess about. A good attitude I think.

We might have been at oor hotel just in time before Sandles opened its new extended section of its resort further up the bay. When we were on the beach there was hardly anyone about and a jog , excercise routine and swim at 7 am is perfect before breakfast.

Our hotel was not of the same standard as Sandles so don't expect it to be. But we got a real bargain and will be back. The differece is we paid one tenth of what some sad sandles guests paid to be on the same beach, swimming in the same warm waters, watching the same sun rises and sun sets. I know which I would prefer.

When you walk along the beach, pick up a rare bottle or empty coke tin, remove a bit of occasional seaweed, and take your empty suncream bottles home. This island is a short step away from becoming spectacular. With proper building controls and avoiding high rise development the island is on track to become something very very special indeed. Its also great for families because there were no sign of alcohol or drug abuse, only socal and sensible drinking. If your looking for something else, go to another island because Antiguq we saw was special and can be proud of that.

My husband and I have just returned from 3 weeks at the Halcyon where we had a fabulous time. We chose not to go AI as we prefer the freedom to get out and about and sample the island life and the beautiful beaches.
If you are planning a trip to Antigua then the Halcyon is situated in a pretty ideal spot for exploring and also for the number of great restaurants nearby.
We found the hotel itself clean , comfortable and staff friendly and helpful (although dont expect speedy responses to queries-this is the Caribbean after all!! ).We had a poolview room which looked directly over the pool and across to the sea-well worth the upgrade.
There are meal plans on offer if you dont go AI but the only one worth doing we felt was the breakfast plan but only for 7 days as there are so many places close by that serve excellent food.
Lots of places have already been reviewed but from our experience the following are certainly worth visiting.
The Beach-good food and bar within walking distance, Coconut Grove-great breakfast and a lovely place for cocktails/dinner in the evening,Pari's Pizza-great pizza but a bit hit and miss to actually get what you want to eat,they had run out of garlic bread one evening!! Tradewinds also does a great breakfast with superb views over the beach and is nice for a drink in the evening.
Further afield Hemingways and Home in St Johns are both fantastic.
If you plan to drive around the island its quite easy but do get a 4x4 as the roads are awful and full of pot holes.OJ's beach bar and Turners beach bar are both well worth visiting for the beaches and the views.
One other place worth a visit is Sandals next door where you can get an all day or evening pass-their food is superb and the staff are great but their newly built Mediterranean (?) complex is grotesquely out of place.
I would certainly go back to the Halcyon as its in such a good position to get around from.

Have previously stayed in the rex in St Lucia,Grenada,thought we would try the rex Antigua.Hotel needs up dating looks a little tired.Most of the staff were friendly.We had a problem with the room, air con,hair dryer,some electrical sockets not working,no cold water, this was supposed to be an upgrade to a superior room.We did get another room which was better.Food reasonable, the Warrie Pier resterant was not up to alacarte dining.Hotel quiet the first week,Fenton the entertainment guy was not very good.Beach towels in short supply.Toilets down at the carib bar had no soap for 1week.One toilet blocked for 1 week.The bar lounge not open.They held a conference on mental health etc,these people took over the dinning room and down at the carrib bar no seats left for guests.Overall i think i would stay there again as Dickenson Beach is lovely,

We went there not expecting much and really all we wanted was a bed to sleep in for a few nights. The staff was extremely friendly from the moment we arrived. They put a roll-away bed in our room, after they realized a room with 2 beds, which we had requested, was not available. Everything was clean and the grounds were well kept up. It wasn't the fanciest place but considering the price we paid it was well worth it. It's great for someone who wants the resort experience but doesn't want to spend a lot of money.